The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1887-01-28
NEW YEARS DAY.
How II Was Observed In the White H0uso
MANY Years Ago.

NEW YEARS DAY.
How II Was Observed in the white H0usl
MANY Years Ago.
In the days Of Mines. Washington,
Madison, Monroe and so down to Mrs.
John Quincy Adams time the New
Years receptions witnessed the very
creme de Ia creme of metropolitan
society at the White House. Refresh
ments used to be served, and the recep.
tons were decidedly favored with
courtly etiquette. When General Jack
son WAS elected his democratic friends
had. of course, to pay him New Years
call. The refreshments, especially the
punch, were absolutely fought for. un.
til they had to be given up.
Mrs. Washington assisted her hus.
band in receiving the gentlemen Of
New York. who called to pay tha1re-
spscts to the chief magistrate on Fri
day, January 1, 1890, at what was then
the executive mansion, Mt No. s Cherry
street, New York. Mrs. John Adams
was at the first New Years reception
held at the White House here, then in
such an unfinished state that she used
the East room to dry her clothes in.
Then came President Jefferson, a
widower. whose two daughters did
what they could to smooth over his
Democratic opposition to the cOurtly
ceremonies of the old Fedcralists. fol-
lowed by that charming North Carolina
Quakeress, Dollie Payne, who first
married lawyer named Todd, and
then Mr.. Madison. 1t is chrOnicled
that under her rule a new dispensatiOn
of social life was introduced into the
White House, especially after the peace
with England. 1916. Her receptions
were gay. sparkling and delightful and
her popularity was unbounded, and she
,reigned in Washington to the end of
her long and happy life. Under Mrs.
Monroe and Mrs. John Quincy Adams
we had in the social reunion of the
executive mansion happy blending of
dignity, refinement. and Republican
simplicity. Mrs. j. Q. Adams was the
last of the school of Martha Washing
ton, of which she was worthy repre-
sentative.
Then came another widower. Pres
ident jackson, who banished etiquette
and fashion from the White House and
introduced the sovereign people. Ire
member well one very amusing recep-
ton in Jackson's time, when patriotic
set of Democratic dairymen in New
York had made and sent to him man,
moth cheese, which he generously had
distributed among his visitors. Cheese
was ''the order of the day." and the
account of the scene by that fastidiOus
writer, N. P.Willis, shows how his arts
tocratic senses were troubled: ..Visitors
found the sidewalk, extending from the
gateway to the White House, thronged
with citizens of all classes, those coming
away having each a small brown paper
parcel and very strong smell, those
advancing manifesting by shakings of
the head and frequent exclamation,
that there may be too much of a good
thing. and particularly of a cheese.
The beautiful portico was throngcd with
boys and coach-drivers, and the Odor
with every step. We
forced our way over the threshold and
an atmosphere to which
the mephitic gas floating over Avernus
must be faint and innocuOus. On the
side of the hall hung rough likeness
IF the General. emblazoned with eagle
md stars. forming background to the
huge tub in which the cheese had been
packed, and in the center of the vesti-
Dule stood the fragrant gift sur
with dense crowd. who. with.
,ut crackers or even malt to their
cheese had in two hours eaten and
away fourteen hundred
The small segment reserved
or the Presidents use counted for
nothing in the distractions.
Mrs. President Tyler, who entered
he White House as bride, was queen.
ike at her New Years receptions; Mrs.
Polk was dignified and somewhat quiet:
Hiss Lane won golden opinions while
Ter ''Uncle Buchanan" was President,
md SO we reach our day and gener.
Philadelphia Times.